Technology Connections That Work


See how effective use of the internet can help forge students, teachers, 
administrators, and parents into effective educational partners


Listen to my podcast "Literacy in a Copy / Paste World"
Keynote Address
Learning Through Literacy Summer Institute, Toronto, Canada August 11, 2005
Podcast Download (27.7 MB) 30 minutes

 

 

I served for over 34 years as teacher, K-12 coordinator, Assistant Superintendent for Instruction, and consultant. My teaching career began in the era of the filmstrip projector and ditto machine. 

Eventually I discovered the internet and found a new way to communicate with the educational community. This site showcases some of my work in web-based instructional projects ~ Peter Pappas


Students

Use the web as a source for your students. Post their assignments and showcase their work on-line. It beats waiting for the copier. 

Sociology  Put your course on-line and give your students 24 / 7 access to  their assignments and resources. You can showcase their projects, and they can even take their quizzes on-line.

Media Content Analysis is a PowerPoint project converted to the web. Students were given an introduction to quantitative analysis. They were asked to observe, categorize and record the content of the media form of their choice.

Conduct a Survey  takes the students through each step of a formal research project. Teams were asked to present their findings in the form of a web page.

For more sample lessons, click here


Ideas:

The web is challenging us to rethink the connection between people and information. Here are some archived examples of projects that show how technology can enhance the learning experience. 

Take a Skill Snapshot  is an article I published in MultiMedia Schools. It describes how on-line assessments can be used to guide instruction and measure student performance.

Here's a website I developed for the Monroe County School / Business Partnership  It connects students, teachers, schools, higher education, labor, business, parents, and community based organizations.

International Youth Issues Projects  A project sponsored by the Canadian Consulate in Buffalo which "twins" a pair of high schools -one Canadian, one American. The site serves as a communications tool for the participants.

Grading Policy Survey  is an example of how the web can be used gather and evaluate information. This survey was sent to sample of high school counselors to assist in a review of grade and class rank policy. (You're welcome to try out the survey - it’s a demonstration version) 

To access more of my publications click here.

 

Copyright © 2001-12, Peter Pappas
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Staff

Use the web to connect with faculty and administrators. Use the web for staff development or in place of more memos. 
It beats going to another meeting.

At East Irondequoit, I managed all our staff development from our website. We provide access to new curriculum and resources for teachers.

As an educational consultant, I always develop a website to support my project and provide an ongoing link to the teachers I'm working with. For sample's of projects click here.

Faculty Technology Use Snap Shot Survey: Better align professional development with teacher needs. This is a short form that's posted online. Teachers take the survey prior to a professional development workshop. It allows us to better gauge collective needs and to differentiate instruction. Here's sample results of a survey taken by group of middle school teachers. 

Faculty Technology Use Survey long form gathers baseline data on a broad array of technology use questions.

Teaching With Documents was developed as a comprehensive resource for document-based instruction. It has links to source material, assessments, and lesson plan.

K-12 Social Studies Program Guide As a former social studies director, I used the web to effectively coordinate district program, standards and assessments.

'Web Site Design for Teachers is the on-line guide to one of my staff development courses. I can easily show your teachers how to develop their own websites. Teachers can access a "how-to" guide; resources and even post their projects.


Parents:

We can enlist parents as partners by keeping them informed about our programs.

I'm proud to have been part of the creation of two small learning communities - the Ninth Grade Academy and the Summer Prep School. Small Learning Communities that Work In each case we first, assembled a team of educators to forge a common vision of teaching and learning. Then schools were organized to accomplish this vision.

I directed a program for academically at-risk middle school students.  Summer Prep School is designed to improve academic skills and performance, to engage students in their learning and improve their attitude toward school.  I developed his program and served its former director. It combines daily instruction in academic skills with weekly outings. Trained high school mentors serve as role models and parent's attend evening Parenting Workshops. The Summer Prep School Website is a valuable tool for building parents, teachers and student peers into an effective team. (archived copy)

I developed the East Irondequoit District website as an ongoing link between school, parents and the community.

Parent Involvement Survey: This survey  provides useful data on parent involvement at a number of levels - communications, attending school events, participating in school events, participating in school decision-making.